Borman was earlier an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Special Counsel to the Mayor of Detroit. For 15 years thereafter, he was Chief Federal Defender of the Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit from 1979 to 1994.[2] When he was appointed to be a federal judge, he became the first federal defender to be appointed to the federal bench.

He was Chief Federal Defender, Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit, from 1979 to 1994.[7] When he was appointed to be a federal judge, he became the first federal defender to be appointed to the federal bench.[8]

Borman was a Professor at Wayne State University Law School from 1968 to 1979.[7] He was an Assistant Dean at Wayne State University Law School from 1968 to 1973. He was an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School from 1981 to 1994.[7]